Prevalence and predictors of common mental disorders among mothers of preterm babies at neonatal intensive care units in Ghana.

The impact of preterm babies' admission at the Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) on the mental health of mothers is a global challenge. However, the prevalence and predictors of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) among this population remain underexplored. This study assessed the predictors of CMDs among mothers of preterm infants in the NICUs in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Psychosocial experiences of mothers of preterm babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Upper East Regional Hospital, Bolgatanga: a descriptive phenomenological study.

Introduction: The postnatal period often presents significant psychological and social distress for mothers, a burden that is potentially heightened by having a preterm baby. Mothers of preterm babies face various psychosocial challenges that need to be explored. While some studies have explored the experiences of mothers of preterm babies, there is a need for more context-specific research to inform targeted interventions, especially in resource-constrained settings like northern Ghana.

Assessment of intention to use modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Benin: evidence from a national population-based survey.

Background: Women's intentions to use any contraceptive method are critical for better understanding their future needs and making them more likely to act on that intention. This study assessed the factors associated with the intention to use modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Benin.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that used the 2017-2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS).

Coping strategies used by informal family caregivers of individuals living with mental illness in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study.

Background: Caregivers' responsibilities for caring for individuals living with mental illness have grown in the last three decades, owing mostly to the transition of mental health treatment from institutions to community-based psychiatric services. Due to the burden that ensues with caring for individuals living with mental illness, many caregivers adopt different strategies to deal with the challenges.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the coping strategies of informal family caregivers of individuals living with mental illness in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Postpartum depression: The prevalence and associated factors among women attending postnatal clinics in the Bawku municipality, Upper East Region of Ghana.

Introduction: This study examined postpartum depression (PPD) among mothers in the Bawku municipality of Ghana, aiming to assess its prevalence and associated risk factors.

Methods: A total of 242 women, 2-12 weeks postpartum, were randomly recruited for this cross-sectional analytical study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used for depression screening, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the factors associated with PPD.

Factors associated with timely initiation of antenatal care among reproductive age women in The Gambia: a multilevel fixed effects analysis.

Background: A significant factor impacting the incidence of maternal and neonatal fatalities is the timely initiation of antenatal care (ANC) services in healthcare facilities. Despite the recommendations by the World Health Organization and the numerous benefits of timely initiation of ANC, studies have revealed that the overall prevalence of timely ANC initiation in 36 sub-Saharan African countries remains low and women in The Gambia also initiate ANC late. However, no known study in The Gambia has focused on assessing the factors associated with timely initiation of ANC at the time of writing this paper.

Exploring the burden on family caregivers in providing care for their mentally ill relatives in the Upper East Region of Ghana.

Caring for the mentally ill involves numerous challenges, including financial difficulties, stigma, and psychosocial issues, among others. Unpaid family caregivers must endure these challenges as they continue their care for their relatives with mental illness. Despite these burdens and their concomitant effects on both the patients and their caregivers, there is no evidence of this burden in the Bolgatanga municipality.

Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses in the management of schizophrenia in the Upper East Region of Ghana: a qualitative study.

Objective: Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, of which the diagnosis and management require comprehensive care. The role mental health nurses play in this management cannot be overemphasised. In an effort to give their best, several challenges confront them which need to be sought and addressed.

Exploring the barriers to mental health service utilization in the Bolgatanga Municipality: the perspectives of family caregivers, service providers, and mental health administrators.

Background: Mental health service utilization remains a challenge in developing countries, with numerous barriers affecting access to care. Albeit data suggest poor utilization of mental health services in the Bolgatanga Municipality in Ghana, no studies have explored the barriers to the utilization of mental health services. Therefore, this study explored the perspectives of family caregivers, service providers, and mental health service administrators on the barriers to mental health service utilization in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Ghana.

Five-year trend of antipsychotic prescription practices in a district Hospital in Ghana: A retrospective study.

Introduction: Antipsychotics are the mainstay treatment for psychotic conditions. Their prescription, however, should come with some caution since the consequences of their side effects can be dire for the patient receiving the prescription. Because of inadequate experts in low-middle-income countries, non-experts are trained through the Mental Health Gap Action Program (MHGAP) to reduce the treatment gap.

Recurrent Episodes of Dissociative Fugue with Comorbid Severe Depression and Alcohol Dependence Syndrome.

The rarity and close resemblance to other mental health conditions of dissociative fugue make it difficult to diagnose. Akin to a culture-bound syndrome, most African countries have their local explanation for this unique presentation and therefore people may not seek evidence-based health care but rather may resort to faith-based-treatment which may not give the best results. This is the case of a 39-year-old man who has experienced about five episodes of dissociative fugue over nine years.

Knowledge into the Practice against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ghana.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected populations globally, including Ghana. Knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, and the application of preventive public health interventions are pivotal to its control. Besides a lockdown, measures taken against the spread of the virus include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular hand washing with soap and, more recently, vaccination against the virus.